Repair or Replace: Chevy El Camino

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Possibly you’ve seen a concept car or two of Chevrolet’s El Camino roaming around the internet this past year. They’re certainly fun to look at, aren’t they? Some artists' renderings of the utilitarian hot rod dressed in modern guise are really quite attractive. Should Chevrolet decide to build anything that resembles these prototypes, they could be in for one hell of an automotive home run. Will they do so? They haven’t yet. Chevrolet was quick to reintroduce a mid-sized truck after discontinuing its long running S10 model in 2012, named the Colorado. What about a different kind of truck for a different kind of driver - maybe a buyer who needs the convenience of a truck but doesn’t need tons of towing capability? A buyer who’d like four-wheel drive but doesn’t need four-doors and a small village worth of space in their cab. Well, there’s the El Camino, and if Chevrolet doesn’t ever build us another one, there are plenty of nice examples on the used hot rod market.

Repair or Replace: Chevy El Camino

Possibly you’ve seen a concept car or two of Chevrolet’s El Camino roaming around the internet this past year. They’re certainly fun to look at, aren’t they? Some artists' renderings of the utilitarian hot rod dressed in modern guise are really quite attractive. Should Chevrolet decide to build anything that resembles these prototypes, they could be in for one hell of an automotive home run. Will they do so? They haven’t yet. Chevrolet was quick to reintroduce a mid-sized truck after discontinuing its long running S10 model in 2012, named the Colorado. What about a different kind of truck for a different kind of driver - maybe a buyer who needs the convenience of a truck but doesn’t need tons of towing capability? A buyer who’d like four-wheel drive but doesn’t need four-doors and a small village worth of space in their cab. Well, there’s the El Camino, and if Chevrolet doesn’t ever build us another one, there are plenty of nice examples on the used hot rod market.

Chevrolet El Camino 1959-60; 1964-1987

Chevrolet’s El Camino could be the “Eleanor” of the automotive industry. Dating back to 1959, the El Camino’s first run was a short, two-year introductory period before it fell off Chevrolet’s map and was discontinued. After a four-year hiatus, the half-car, half-truck reappeared for its loyal fan base in 1964 and was largely based on the Chevelle. This time around Chevrolet took a more open-ended approach and offered more options for its customers to choose from, including a 300 hp 327. The coveted 396 big-block wouldn’t be introduced until two years later in ‘66, when the El Camino would receive its first refresh after its reintroduction. Fast forward to today, and the El Camino was on and off Chevy’s assembly line right up until 1987. The car-truck has come and gone time after time in the automotive past. Finding yourself an El Camino that isn’t a rust bucket can be done today with a bit of patience. That’s what we’ll all have to have until General Motors decides to build us a new version.

1959 Fun Facts from the Past!

F.Y.I. Bonanza made its debut appearance as America’s first broadcast game show.
Automotive: General Motors registered the Corvair name.
In the Movies: The 1959 El Camino has been featured in movies like Black Sheep starring Chris Farley and David Spade.
Billboard Charts: “The Battle of New Orleans” by Johnny Horton was among the Billboard top of the charts in 1959.
Fun Fact: The Baltimore Colts were NFL Super Bowl Champions in 1959.
1959 Heavyweight Boxing Champion: Floyd Patterson
Miss America 1959: Mary Ann Mobley